PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Thad Fitzgerald (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Taylor Otiwato (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Fitzgerald
vs
Otiwato

195 cm
22
177 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

179 cm
22
169 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Thad Fitzgerald!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Taylor Otiwato!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Edson Gomes and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Otiwato pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Otiwato is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Otiwato is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Otiwato tries to clinch there but Fitzgerald circles away.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Fitzgerald enables Otiwato to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Fitzgerald manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

Fitzgerald looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Otiwato passes into side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fitzgerald tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Otiwato wants to control but Fitzgerald is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fitzgerald is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Otiwato's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Otiwato is trying to control the action in half guard but Fitzgerald is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Fitzgerald tries to get to full guard but Otiwato has control of the leg.

Otiwato is trying to work for a kimura but Fitzgerald is defending well.
Fitzgerald holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Otiwato is looking to take a break and control but Fitzgerald is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fitzgerald trying to hold on to Otiwato's head to control him but Otiwato postures up.
Fitzgerald really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Otiwato is trying to control the action in half guard but Fitzgerald is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Fitzgerald moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Fitzgerald is adopting a defensive guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Otiwato misses with an uppercut
and Fitzgerald counters with a solid body kick.
Otiwato tries to clinch but Fitzgerald moves out of range.

Otiwato looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Fitzgerald regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Otiwato.
Otiwato postures up and lands a big shot to Fitzgerald's brow.
Otiwato trying to control the position from guard on top but Fitzgerald is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Fitzgerald has his foot on Otiwato's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Otiwato works his way back into a safe position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fitzgerald wants to sweep here but Otiwato controlling him for the moment.
Fitzgerald pulls Otiwato in close to his closed guard and prevents Otiwato from doing any damage or advancing position.
Otiwato wants to control from the top but Fitzgerald keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Fitzgerald working a defensive guard but Otiwato passes into half guard.
Fitzgerald moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Taylor Otiwato dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Otiwato scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

It looks like Thad Fitzgerald has been cut.
Otiwato lands a brutal head kick. Fitzgerald looks out on his feet and Otiwato throws more strikes until the ref is forced to stop the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:18 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Kick and Punches). Taylor Otiwato!